Writing in a personal capacity to share views, information and resources for teachers, trade unionists and campaigners in London - and beyond!

Tuesday, 14 September 2010

Help build the London anti-cuts demonstration on October 23rd

Tonight's meeting of the London Transport Regional Council of the RMT agreed to call a London anti-cuts demonstration on Saturday October 23rd.

This demonstration - provisionally assembling outside the RMT offices in Chalton Street near Euston at 11am - will help provide a clear focus in the capital to the Regional Week of Action being built around the date of the Government's Spending Review announcement. The demonstration is planned to march to Congress House where the SE Region TUC are holding an indoor rally from midday.

I was pleased to be able to speak to the meeting, as an NUT Executive member, in support of the proposal for a joint demonstration. We would be 'taking to the streets' to oppose cuts - just as the TUC Congress in Manchester has been urging us to do. A well-built London demonstration - bringing together trade union branches and the many anti-cuts campaigns springing up across different boroughs - will raise the confidence of trade unionists to struggle and get the message across to Londoners that we don't have to accept the Con-Dem cuts.

Last night, Lewisham NUT agreed - in anticipation of the RMT decision - to back the march. It could coincide with strike action from firefighters and we hope that the FBU will soon be adding their backing to the event.

Now the call has gone out from the RMT, other union branches should give their support and - most of all - go out and build for a solid turnout on the day.

Confirmed assembly and route details will be announced as soon as we have arrangements finalised - but don't delay - start spreading the news!

Martin Powell-Davies

* Brought up as a socialist by parents who hungered for what is right * One adopted grandfather left me a double-barrelled name, the other his name on a 1926 General Strike black-list * Joined the Labour Party as a teenager, left it when it abandoned the values and traditions of so many who built it in the past * Given a comprehensive education at St.Andrew's, Leatherhead * First-class degree from King's College, Cambridge, for those who like that kind of thing * Secondary science teacher in London 1986-2015 * Lewisham NUT Secretary 1993-2015, organiser of many campaigns to defend teachers and education * Living in Sydenham since 1997, father of four who were all so well-supported by Sedgehill School * Member of the NUT National Executive 2010-15 * NUT London Regional Secretary 2016 - * Proud to have been name-checked by Gove for saying that his 'reforms' could make teaching unbearable * Member of the CWI, following its global struggles via http://www.socialistworld.net * Candidate for TUSC in Lewisham West & Penge, 2015 * Member of Penge CC, often a 'Middle Aged Man In Lycra' on Sundays